Different from Gaokao in China which your university admission is solely dependent on your Gaokao results, universities in the UK pay attention to applicants’ extra-curricular academic pursuits in their interested fields alongside their in-class academic performance. This can be demonstrated by the UK undergraduate course application process: in the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) platform, applicants not only need to fill in subject results and/or predicted results but also provide a copy of personal statement.

For the personal statement, UCAS suggests that applicants should add ‘any training or achievements that show your skills’. That is to say, in the personal statement, which is essential for the university application, students should show university admission officers that you want to read certain course and you are the perfect candidate for this particular course. Expressing your strong interest is not enough, instead, you need to clarify why you are interested, why you are suitable to study the course, what have you done to walk closer to the course, what knowledge and skills you have acquired to enable you to explore further in the field, etc.

As for how to demonstrate your efforts, a good way is to participate in some course-related academic/research activities. Don’t be intimidated by the word ‘academic’ or ‘research’. As a secondary school student, you are not expected to conduct cutting-edge scientific research and publish journal articles to promote development in that field. Instead, by saying academic/research activities, we mean that students can investigate a subject or even a subject question beyond their regular curriculum—students can either take part in subject competitions or write essays focusing on specific questions. What matters is that you really spend time and effort on the subject(s) you love after classes. This experience is your achievement, reflecting how committed you are to your interested subject, no matter whether you win a prize or not.  

At the beginning of the new year, we are making a list of academic/research activities that students can participate in.

Based on the university course you like and your study schedule, students are encouraged to take part in one or two activities to add some extra points for your university applications. For specific registration deadlines and eligibility, students can search online or contact us. Please note that not all activities are listed here in the table. For competitions or essay prizes on a specific subject, please contact us for more information.

We sincerely hope that every student makes a progressive plan for their university applications. It is of great significance that students aim to achieve the highest marks on their school subjects. In the meantime, they should try their best to participate in extra-curricular activities as much as possible. If you have any questions about the study, research activity or application, please do not hesitate to let us know. We are here for you, anytime.